
Pleurothallis rectipetala
Pleurothallis rectipetala Ames & C.Schweinf., Sched. Orch. 8: 32. 1925.
Type: Costa Rica. [Cartago:] Cachi, cultivated at Cartago and flowered in Jun 1924, C. H. Lankester 915 (holotype, AMES).
Illustrated specimen: Costa Rica. Cartago: Jiménez, Pejibaye, Tucurrique, Bajos del Humo, between Humo and Vueltas rivers, eastern slope of Cerros Duán, 1396 m. 24 Nov 2008. D. Bogarin 5743, R.L. Dressler, R. Gómez & R. Trejos (JBL; LCDP voucher).
Etymology: From the Latin rectus, “straight”, in reference to the shape of the petals.
Pleurothallis rectipetala can be distinguished by the combination of the comparatively large, cordate leaves, the erect spathe with the flowers barely exerted from it, the dull purple flowers with linear-oblong, reflexed petals and the very thick, ovate-peltate lip. It is most similar to P. radula, which has yellow flowers and a irregularly crestate lip, and to P. luna-crescens, which has a crescent-shaped flower with much longer, narrower petals.